Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 12 009
Apply for RFA ES 12 009
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Environmental Influences on the Microbiome (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 28, 2012 and posted on Aug 28, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 16, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments County governments State governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Influences on the Microbiome (R21) funding opportunity (RFA-ES-12-009) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program focused on understanding how environmental exposures shape the microbiome. The central goal is to stimulate exploratory, early-stage research that examines how contact with environmental chemicals can change the composition of microbial communities and/or alter what those communities do biologically (their function). A key emphasis is on connecting environmental health science with modern microbiome research, including short-term shifts after exposure as well as longer-term or potentially lasting changes that may influence health over time.
Projects supported under this announcement are expected to directly investigate the relationship between environmental chemical exposures and the microbiome using appropriate experimental systems and study designs. Applicants are encouraged to use wild-type or humanized gnotobiotic model organisms, which are powerful tools for isolating cause-and-effect relationships because the microbial community can be defined and manipulated in controlled conditions. The opportunity also welcomes studies that leverage existing human cohorts, which can be especially valuable for examining real-world exposure patterns, inter-individual variability, and microbiome differences across populations. Overall, the program is structured to enable research that can clarify whether certain exposures disrupt microbial ecology, alter microbial metabolism, influence host-microbe interactions, or modify susceptibility to later disease.
Early-life exposure is highlighted as an area of particular interest. The announcement notes that exposures during infancy and other early developmental windows occur during initial microbiota colonization, a period when microbial communities are being established and host systems are developing in tandem. Because this is a formative stage, chemical exposures at this time may have outsized or persistent effects, potentially shifting the microbiome in ways that endure and change its long-term capabilities. Applicants proposing studies focused on these developmental windows are therefore well aligned with the stated priorities, especially if the work can address both immediate microbiome responses and downstream, longer-term outcomes.
Administratively, this is an R21 mechanism, which typically supports innovative, high-impact pilot or proof-of-concept studies that may involve higher risk but can open new lines of inquiry. The opportunity was posted on August 28, 2012, with an original and final closing date of January 16, 2013, and it was archived on February 16, 2013. The estimated total funding available under this announcement was approximately $2,000,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for applicants and allows budgets to be driven by scientific need rather than external matching constraints.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations: nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), along with independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The announcement also explicitly recognizes a range of mission-driven and capacity-building institutions and organizations as eligible, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, although foreign components as defined in NIH policy are allowed, which can matter for collaborations, specialized assays, or unique study resources located outside the United States.
In practical terms, this opportunity is aimed at researchers who can bring together exposure science, microbiology, toxicology, computational biology, and/or epidemiology to answer mechanistic and translational questions about how environmental chemicals influence microbial communities. Competitive projects would generally be expected to define the exposure(s) of interest, specify the microbiome outcomes to be measured (community structure, functional pathways, metabolites, or host-response markers), and justify the chosen model organism or cohort approach. Additional details, including full application requirements and NIH-specific policy language, were provided in the full announcement at the NIH grants page listed in the opportunity, with contact support available through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Environmental Influences on the Microbiome (R21) funding opportunity?
This is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity (RFA-ES-12-009) that supports exploratory, early-stage research on how environmental exposures, particularly environmental chemicals, shape the microbiome.
What is the main goal of this program?
The central goal is to stimulate innovative pilot and proof-of-concept studies that examine whether contact with environmental chemicals changes (1) the composition of microbial communities and/or (2) what those communities do biologically (their function), including both short-term shifts and longer-term or potentially lasting changes that may influence health over time.
What types of exposures are the focus of this opportunity?
The program focuses on environmental chemical exposures and how they relate to changes in microbial communities and microbiome function.
What microbiome outcomes are relevant to this funding opportunity?
Projects are expected to investigate microbiome-related outcomes such as changes in microbial ecology (community structure and composition), changes in microbial metabolism and functional activity, impacts on host-microbe interactions, and whether exposures modify susceptibility to later disease.
Does the opportunity support studies linking environmental health science with modern microbiome research?
Yes. A key emphasis is explicitly on connecting environmental health science with modern microbiome research approaches, including investigating immediate responses after exposure as well as longer-term changes that may persist.
What kind of research stage is this intended for?
This is an R21 mechanism, which typically supports innovative, high-impact exploratory work. It is often used for early-stage, pilot, or proof-of-concept studies that may be higher risk but can open new lines of inquiry.
Are applicants expected to directly test the relationship between chemical exposures and the microbiome?
Yes. Projects supported under this announcement are expected to directly investigate the relationship between environmental chemical exposures and the microbiome using appropriate experimental systems and study designs.
What experimental systems are encouraged for this research?
The announcement encourages the use of wild-type or humanized gnotobiotic model organisms, which allow defined and manipulable microbial communities under controlled conditions and can help isolate cause-and-effect relationships.
Are studies using existing human cohorts allowed?
Yes. The opportunity welcomes studies that leverage existing human cohorts, which can be useful for understanding real-world exposure patterns, inter-individual variability, and microbiome differences across populations.
Why are gnotobiotic models specifically highlighted?
They are highlighted because the microbial community can be defined and manipulated in controlled conditions, making them powerful tools for clarifying causal relationships between chemical exposures and microbiome changes.
Is early-life exposure research specifically encouraged?
Yes. Early-life exposure is called out as an area of particular interest, especially exposures during infancy and other early developmental windows when initial microbiota colonization and host development occur together.
Why does the announcement emphasize infancy and early developmental windows?
Because this period is formative for microbiota establishment and host development, chemical exposures during this time may have outsized or persistent effects, potentially shifting the microbiome in ways that endure and change long-term capabilities.
Does the opportunity support research on both immediate and long-term microbiome effects?
Yes. The description emphasizes studying short-term shifts after exposure as well as longer-term or potentially lasting changes, including downstream outcomes over time.
What is the estimated total funding available under this announcement?
The estimated total funding available was approximately $2,000,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $200,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on August 28, 2012, and the original and final closing date was January 16, 2013.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. It was archived on February 16, 2013, indicating it is not currently active for new applications under that announcement.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are minority-serving and mission-driven institutions eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly recognizes eligibility for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any foreign-related activities allowed at all?
Yes. While foreign institutions cannot apply, foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) are allowed, which can be relevant for collaborations, specialized assays, or unique study resources located outside the United States.
What kinds of scientific expertise or disciplines fit this opportunity?
The opportunity is aimed at researchers who can integrate areas such as exposure science, microbiology, toxicology, computational biology, and epidemiology to address mechanistic and translational questions about how environmental chemicals influence microbial communities.
What would a competitive project generally be expected to describe?
Competitive projects would generally be expected to define the environmental exposure(s) of interest, specify the microbiome outcomes to be measured (for example, community structure, functional pathways, metabolites, and/or host-response markers), and justify the model organism or cohort approach used to answer the research question.
Where were the full requirements and NIH policy details provided?
Full application requirements and NIH-specific policy language were provided in the full announcement on the NIH grants page associated with this opportunity.
Who can be contacted for help accessing the announcement or resolving linking issues?
Contact support for access or linking issues was available through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 12 009) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (SBIR R43) Apply for RFA ES 13 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Core Centers (P30) Apply for RFA ES 13 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Land Use Change and Disease Emergence Apply for RFI 486 13 00002 Funding Number: RFI 486 13 00002 Agency: Thailand USAID Bangkok Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) Apply for PAR 13 136 Funding Number: PAR 13 136 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Twin Cities Clean Cities Initiative in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) NOI Not a Request for Proposals Apply for P13AP00046 Funding Number: P13AP00046 Agency: National Park Service Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $128,000 |
| Notice of Intent Apply for F13AS00238 Funding Number: F13AS00238 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Research Linking Environmental Exposure to Alzheimers Disease (R01) Apply for RFA ES 13 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Research Linking Environmental Exposure to Neurodegenerative Disease (R21) Apply for RFA ES 13 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 13 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Role of Environmental Exposures in the Development of Autoimmune Disease (R21) Apply for RFA ES 13 011 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Validation and Demonstration of Devices for Environmental Exposure Assessment (R21/R33) Apply for RFA ES 13 013 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award (R01) Apply for RFA ES 13 014 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (EHS CC) (P30) Apply for RFA ES 13 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| NIH Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)(R01) Apply for PAR 14 050 Funding Number: PAR 14 050 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Developing Mercury Inventories for Artisanal and Small scale Gold Mining Sectors in Southeast Asia Apply for OES OMM 14 001 Funding Number: OES OMM 14 001 Agency: Ocean and International Environmental Scientific Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Novel Technologies for Rapid and Sensitive Biomonitoring in Humans (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 14 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR E learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 14 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Undergraduate Research Education Program (UP) to Enhance Diversity in the Environmental Health Sciences (R25) Apply for RFA ES 14 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Innovative Approaches for the Identification of Mitochondria Cell Signaling Networks in Response to Environmental Stress Apply for RFA ES 14 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Hazmat Training at DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex (UH4) Apply for RFA ES 14 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
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